A SMOKE alarm prevented a kitchen fire causing serious damage in Longfield last night (August 30).

The alarm went off in a house in Northdown Road at around 6.20pm after unattended cooking caught light.

People living in the home put out the flames with a fire extinguisher before shutting the kitchen door and calling the fire brigade.

Two crews from Dartford fire station arrived and made sure the flames were completely out before opening the windows to remove the smoke.

They were at the incident for around 45 minutes.